1 Samuel 16:1 (KJV)
And the LORD said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? fill thine horn with oil, and go, I will send thee to Jesse the Bethlehemite: for I have provided me a king among his sons.
All of us go through seasons of mourning.
- A loss in the family.
- An unexpected hardship.
- A rift in a relationship.
In this case, Samuel was mourning over the spiritual decline of King Saul. Even though Saul was never the man God had intended to lead Israel—and Samuel knew it—Samuel had grown to love him and hoped for his good on behalf of the nation. Those hopes were dashed.
Right from the start, Saul showed himself to be spiritually fickle. One moment he would seem on fire for the Lord, and the next he would give in to the impulses of his flesh. As time went on, those impulses drove Saul far more than the things of the Lord.
It was Samuel’s duty both to pronounce the judgment of God upon Saul and to anoint the man who would replace him. But this was not a responsibility Samuel relished.
All of this left him in a state of mourning—a state I believe the Lord allowed for a season. But there came a point when God told him it was time to get over it.
Some people never do.
Here I see a biblical plan for moving out of a season of mourning.
First, we must come to the place where we recognize it is time to move on. Mourning for a season is normal. Living in a season of mourning is not only abnormal—it is unhealthy. We must acknowledge when it is time to move forward.
Second, move on.
There was a new king to anoint. There were challenges ahead, but it was time to go forward. Challenges, obstacles, and hurdles are no excuse to dwell in a state of depression. In fact, those very challenges can help us move on. They engage the mind and redirect our focus. Life brings a new day—fresh with new opportunities and new obstacles. Embrace both.
Finally, obey the Lord.
“And Samuel did that which the LORD spake….”
It may be the last thing a person thinks he or she wants to do. It may even seem that obeying the Lord is the last thing that would help. But God’s ways are higher than our ways. Trust Him. Obey Him. Do that which the LORD speaks.
“How long wilt thou mourn…?”
There is a way out. And once you are out, you will be glad you are.
#HowLongWiltThouMourn #TimeToMoveOn #ObeyTheLord #GodProvidesAKing #HopeAfterLoss
Mourn for a Season, Not for a Lifetime: 3 Biblical Steps to Move Out of Grief
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If you’re in a season of mourning, don’t ignore what the Lord asked Samuel:
“How long wilt thou mourn?” There is a way forward, and Scripture shows it.
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1 Samuel 16:1 (KJV) Mourn for a Season, Not for a Lifetime
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